VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
History of Urban Design
Geschichte des Städtebaus
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:14:09
Abstract
Urban extensions-city enlargements
Objective
In this seminar city enlargements of several towns will be examined. After having studied and analysed an example of urban extension, it will be compared with a suitable enlargements of other towns. The major aim of this seminar will be to find out the ontological characteristics of city enlargements - towards historical circumstances, urban theoretical discourse, local general conditions. The seminar is conceived as an experiment of studying by researching and stays at the beginning of a mid-term study on design strategies for the city.
Content
Generally speaking city enlargements stays for the planned extension of a town in its surrounding area. As city enlargements have always been part of urban planning and remain to be one, we will ask in this semester for continuities and breaks in this strategy for the city. The seminar on city extensions will be focused on the phenomenon, which has always played a major role in urban planning. We will examine examples from the Renaissance era, from the 19th century and also modern examples. We would like to work out the different methods and strategies of those extensions - in the least cases paying tribute to the local circumstances, but mainly producing uniform city quarters. If we look at city enlargements in the early modern times they were executed as a mere enlargement of the city's area. In the 19th century the founding of the discipline of urban planning was a necessary move in order to cope with the changes caused by industrialization and urban growth. But also the Modern and the Post-Modern era have seen a lot of solutions for city enlargements.
Resources
Lecture Notes
There will be no script handed out.
Literature
Literature will be distributed as a biblographical list at the first session.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , DS , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Geschichte des Städtebaus |
|
1 h weekly |